Darryl Gets House Arrest After Crash

Daily News Wire Services

Posted: September 13, 2000

Suspended Yankees star Darryl Strawberry was sentenced to two years' house arrest yesterday after admitting he violated probation by driving under the influence of medication and by leaving the scene of an accident.

Strawberry, who is fighting the spread of colon cancer, apologized during a brief hearing before Judge Florence Foster for causing a Monday morning traffic accident. He said he blacked out from his medication while heading to a meeting with his probation officer.

"I used the wrong judgment. . . taking medication because I didn't feel well," he told the court. "I just blacked out. I didn't know if I hurt anybody. I feel really bad about that."

Strawberry was released from jail yesterday, slipping out a side door to avoid crowds.

Foster was the judge who placed the suspended eight-time All-Star on probation last year in a drug and solicitation case. Prosecutors requested house arrest, although Strawberry could have been sent to prison.

Assistant State Attorney Robin Fuson said that Strawberry will still have to face the misdemeanor charges from Monday's accident - driving under the influence and leaving the scene of the accident - as separate crimes that could bring additional punishment.

House arrest means the 38-year-old outfielder leave home only to go to a doctor's office or for work. Should he attempt to rejoin a major league baseball team, he would need court permission, Fuson said.

Strawberry spent Monday night in jail after an off-duty Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy saw the player hit a road sign, turn onto another street and rear-end a sports utility vehicle stopped at a red light.

If he successfully completes the first year of house arrest, the judge said Strawberry can request to return to regular drug-offender probation.

Strawberry told officers Monday he had taken the sleeping medication Ambien, according to sheriff's spokesman Rod Reder. Joseph Ficarrotta, Strawberry's defense attorney, said he also has prescriptions for the narcotic painkillers Percocet and Vicodin.

Strawberry was suspended for most of last season after his arrest in Tampa in April 1999 on drug and solicitation charges.

He pleaded no contest and was sentenced by Foster to 18 months' probation. He was suspended from baseball for a year in February, a month after he tested positive for cocaine.

Strawberry, who had surgery for colon cancer in 1998 and for a stomach tumor last month, has doctor's appointments scheduled in Tampa and New York, where he had his latest operation.

In another matter, righthander David Cone is returning from a separated left shoulder and was scheduled to start for the New York Yankees Friday night against Cleveland. He was hurt trying to field a popped-up bunt.

In last night's games:

YANKEES 10, BLUE JAYS 2

At New York, Jose Canseco went 3-for-3, hitting his 446th career home run to lead the Yankees to their 10th win in 13 games.